calls to action

Give to the World by Giving to V-Day

11/14/2006

Give to the World by Giving to V-Day

Hello,

For almost nine years V-Day has been working to stop violence against women and girls all over the world. As a recipient of our "V-Mail", you know that V-Day's model of 'empowerment philanthropy' has been a catalyst for activists, college students, anti-violence organizations and vagina warriors to transform their own communities in more than 112 countries worldwide.

You who have joined the V-Mail list have supported and inspired us with your enthusiasm for our mission, your belief in our work, and your willingness to take action in your own way in the name of stopping violence. We are delighted and grateful to share this movement with you.

As we gear up for a powerful and inspiring 2007 season, we are reaching out to ask you to make a tax-deductible contribution to develop our extraordinary programs that are making our grassroots movement a voice for ALL who know that together we can stop violence against women and girls.

V-Day is at a turning point. Our work is expanding exponentially. Here are just a few of the new V-Day programs taking place over the next 12 months:

In February 2007, the 1st Beirut International Women's Conference will convene 500 delegates - women leaders, politicians, executives, journalists, and activists from across the Middle East region. The forum will capture the transformation taking place in the world of Arab women, identify emerging trends for women in civil society, business, and politics, while providing a platform to debate major aspects of the lives of Arab women such as working motherhood and women's bodies as power.

In March 2007, the 1st ever workshop for V-Day activists in Africa will take place bringing together women and men from 15 countries to develop a V-Day Africa Coalition. Across Africa, local V-Day activists have been developing tools, power, and resources for African women to control their bodily security in sexual relationships, zones of armed conflict, and against abuse. At the workshop, women leaders and activists in Africa will join together to look at the intersection of HIV/AIDS and violence against women, developing strategies and actions to combat these issues.

In April 2007, V-Day will travel to Haiti for the 1st time. With benefit performances of "The Vagina Monologues" in Port Au Prince and satellite performances by local women in rural and outlying communities, V-Day will inform and educate the world about the horrific rapes and abuses that have been taking place for decades.

These amazing events join the already over 2000 V-Day benefits that will take place February - March 2007 in over 800 communities and on college campuses. From Nigeria to NYU, China to DePaul University, from New Zealand to University of Puerto Rico, local activists will stage benefit productions of "The Vagina Monologues" raising funds and awareness for local anti-violence groups in their communities. More events are added daily as registration continues.

And in the summer of 2007, V-Day's Until The Violence Stops Festival, successfully originated in New York City in 2006, will be replicated by V-Day organizers in Ohio and Kentucky, bringing together women's groups in those states to stand strong and demand an end to violence in their communities.

Empowering women the world over has been V-Day's greatest joy. There is nothing more rewarding than hearing from organizers, beneficiaries, and audiences that the work being done in their communities is creating safety, healing and inspiration for all women, men and children.

In this season of gratitude and generosity, you can support V-Day's giving to the world by giving to V-Day. Your tax-deductible contribution* will enable us to empower more local networks and change the lives of women and girls worldwide. With your support, we WILL end violence against women and girls.

*94 cents of every dollar you give goes straight to ending violence against women and girls. V-Day keeps administrative costs low by operating as a "virtual organization". Incorporated as a 501( c )3 charity in the state of California, the V-Day staff work in regions around the U.S. and world, primarily through volunteers and with a small paid staff. Eve Ensler, V-Day's founder and artistic director, remains a volunteer. V-Day, together with our organizers, has raised over $40 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it, crafted international educational, media and PSA campaigns, launched the Karama program in the Middle East, reopened shelters, and funded over 5000 community-based anti-violence programs and safe houses in Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq. The 'V' in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina. http://www.vday.org